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Session? What Session? State swivels to coronavirus control | Paula Dockery

Florida’s annual 60-day legislative session was supposed to end on March 13 but went into a short overtime to finish the budget and the required 72-hour cooling-off period before a final vote on the state’s spending plan.

The final budget vote was taken on March 19 with little fanfare. The massive coverage usually devoted to the legislative session was reserved for the coronavirus that’s changing life for Floridians and visitors to our state — and rightfully so.

Ironically, the negotiated budget that held up the session’s ending will probably be drastically changed when new revenue projections show the loss of tax dollars collected. The new budget starts on July 1, and updated revenue projections are likely to be grim.

FYI: To provide our community with important public safety information, the Tallahassee Democrat is making stories related to the coronavirus free to read. To support important local journalism like this, please consider becoming a digital subscriber.

Without a state income tax, Florida is heavily reliant on sales tax collections that will be greatly diminished by the closing of bars, restaurants, movie theaters, theme parks, stores and other businesses. Tourists and spring breakers headed home. Baseball’s spring training ended early and most sporting events have been canceled.

Events are moving quickly, and days feel like weeks. Florida’s presidential primary was on March 17. Joe Biden defeated Bernie Sanders handily in Florida, Illinois and Arizona. That seems like a lifetime ago.

On March 17 in-person voting took place — but many voters had already voted by mail or by in-person early voting. On March 18, Florida’s state universities were ordered to go online with all teaching. On March 20 Gov. Ron DeSantis closed all restaurants except for take-out service. As of March 24 there were 1,467 positive coronavirus cases and 20 deaths in Florida.

It’s no wonder the news media — and most Floridians — are focused on the pandemic we’re facing and the challenges now affecting our daily lives.

To be honest, not many Floridians follow what the Florida Legislature does even when we’re not consumed with a deadly virus. But even some of us who are political junkies tuned out the sausage-making in Tallahassee.

Secretary of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration Mary Mayhew speaks at a press conference held by Gov. Ron DeSantis on the topic of coronavirus Wednesday, March 11, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

Director of the Division of Emergency Management Jared Moskowitz speaks at a press conference held by Gov. Ron DeSantis on the topic of coronavirus Wednesday, March 11, 2020. Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat

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It took some searching to find out what happened with many of the controversial bills that were getting a lot of coverage early in the session.

The parental consent bill for minors seeking an abortion passed both the House and Senate.

HB7067 expanded school vouchers but did little to nothing to level the playing field of accountability between voucher schools and traditional public schools.

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Senate President Bill Galvano and House Speaker José Oliva bump elbows as they speak to reporters after Sine Die on the last day of the 2020 legislative session at the Capitol Thursday, March 19, 2020.(Photo: Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat)

The Legislature also found time to impose more restrictions on citizens’ ballot initiatives, making it more onerous for Floridians to amend their Constitution. SB 1794 passed the House on a party-line vote, with Republicans pushing the measures.

DeSantis pushed for the E-Verify bill (SB664) to check if workers were here legally. It passed but was weakened considerably from its original intent.

Despite facing a daunting healthcare emergency, the Legislature failed to expand Medicaid coverage to Florida’s working poor—leaving the state as one of only 14 that refuse to do so.

The promising talk of sentencing reform for those in prison for low-level drug offenses went nowhere.

Then there was a late-in-the process, out-of-the-blue threat by the House to take away the independence of two state universities — Florida Polytechnic and New College —and to merge them with the University of Florida. After causing much grief and angst among students and school personnel that would be affected, the issue dissipated. What was that all about?

The tax-cut package (HB7097) originally estimated to lessen revenues by $120 million was essentially cut in half and passed with only $57 million in cuts. The tax cuts include a three-day back-to-school tax holiday and a seven-day disaster preparedness sales tax break.

SB712, dubbed the Clean Waterways Act, was the Legislature’s attempt to rein in blue-green algae blooms that have been disastrous to Florida’s tourism and wildlife. This was one of DeSantis’ priorities, but the Legislature failed to implement all recommendations from his task force.

Lastly, the budget — the only bill the Legislature is required to pass during session—came in at $93.2 billion in spending. It included $500 million to raise the average teacher starting salary and a 3 percent pay hike for state workers. While still not meeting the requirements of Amendment 1, the Legislature did put $625 million into Everglades restoration and $100 million into Florida Forever.

Will this budget stand or will the Legislature have to start all over when the hit on sales taxes resulting from the coronavirus becomes clear?

Paula Dockery is a syndicated columnist who served in the Florida Legislature for 16 years as a Republican from Lakeland. She is now a registered NPA. PBDockery@gmail.com.